Biography

Robert Amster has successfully served the retail and distribution industries as both a Consultant and Systems Executive for over 45 years. He is a seasoned professional who has been involved in retail systems design and management continuously throughout his career. He was a Senior Manager with the Northeast Retail Consulting Group of Ernst & Young. Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Mr. Amster held systems management positions for large retailers such as Kmart Apparel, Waldenbooks and Caldor. In addition, he has consulted almost exclusively to retailers since 1985. Mr. Amster’s hands-on experience encompasses strategic planning, operational reviews, systems design and implementation, and interim head of information systems & technology for a number of retailers. He specializes in needs assessments, hardware and software analysis, selection and implementation, operational procedures and systems integration.

His project experience includes over 50 engagements in the evaluation, selection and implementation of merchandising, financial, warehouse and store systems. In addition, Mr. Amster provides assistance to investment firms in due diligence efforts and is the domain expert for IS&T for Highland Consumer Fund. Mr. Amster has provided retail and fulfillment perspectives to the advisory boards of several e-commerce and e-retailing service providers.

Mr. Amster is a member of Bain & Company’s BainGEN network of industry specialists. He has also published in Computerworld, RT magazine, been quoted in other retail trade publications and Fairfield County Business Journal, participated in IT discussion panels, is a Braintrust panelist on RetailWire. and has given executive briefings on information technology in retailing.